Matters of Interest

National Volunteer Week

The Hon. R.B. MARTIN (15:25): National Volunteer Week is our nation's annual celebration of volunteering. This year, National Volunteer Week will be observed from 20 to 26 May. This celebration offers us the opportunity each year to honour the fundamentally important contribution that volunteers make across all of our community. It also aims to inspire people who are not currently volunteering to consider giving it a try.

This year's theme for National Volunteer Week is 'Something for everyone', highlighting not only the diverse passions and talents that our volunteers bring to their endeavours but also that there are so many different ways to volunteer one's time and skills. No matter your interests or what you might like to do, this year's message is that across all areas of our society there is a place for everyone in the world of volunteering.

The work of volunteers makes our communities better and more vibrant places. They are the heart and soul of so many communities and all would agree that we should never take their contributions for granted. Part of the reason that we mark National Volunteer Week each year is so that we can send our volunteers the very clear message that we recognise them, we appreciate them and we understand that we are richer for their many and varied contributions to our state and nation.

Volunteers make an immeasurable contribution to the wellbeing of our communities and, notably, they also make a very significant contribution to our economy. South Australian volunteers altogether contribute an estimated 1.7 million hours of unpaid work each year. The value of that unpaid work is estimated at almost $5 billion. Volunteers certainly do not give their time with the goal in mind of saving our state money, but their efforts often do have that effect and this fact should be rightly recognised.

Another way that we recognise the very deserving volunteers across our community is with the South Australian Volunteer Awards, which this year will take place next week on Wednesday 22 May, coinciding with National Volunteer Week. Established by the South Australian government in 2005, these awards recognise the significant benefit that volunteers offer to our community across a number of categories, such as the Joy Noble Medal, our highest distinction for an individual volunteer; 'The Andamooka' Community Project Award, recognising a community or group volunteer project of significant community benefit; as well as the Young Volunteer Award, the Excellence in Volunteer Management Award and the Premier's Award for Corporate Social Responsibility. The awards are presented by Volunteering SA&NT and proudly supported by the South Australian Department of Human Services.

The tireless work of South Australian volunteers enables and supports many of our organisations to deliver crucially important services to our communities. Without the support of volunteers, these organisations simply would not be able to achieve the scale and reach that volunteers make possible.

It would be remiss of me not to make special mention of the volunteers who put their own safety on the line to preserve ours. Our CFS and SES volunteers willingly put themselves in danger to help others during bushfires, floods and other emergencies. These volunteers are very special people on whom we rely for our safety and, occasionally, for our very survival. We are so grateful for all that they do.

I also want to pay particular tribute to just a few of the volunteers and volunteer groups who I have had the privilege of knowing and engaging with: OzHarvest, the St Vincent de Paul Society, the Kensington Residents' Association and Monique Bareham, all of whom do extraordinary work in their respective areas of contribution, inspiring me and countless others in the process. I am grateful for the rich contributions you all make to our community.

More broadly, I commend the dedicated and critically important work of every South Australian volunteer. Giving freely of your time with no expectation of reward beyond the fulfillment that is found in helping others is a selfless and commendable act of generosity. South Australians are very fortunate that we can find such selflessness on display right across our society in the diverse contributions of our volunteers. I thank you for all that you do, and I know that all members here join me in wishing you the very best for National Volunteer Week 2024.